US-RUn-msg93 Guide to the Jamestown Bridge Project Finding aid prepared by Russell Franks. University of Rhode Island Library, Special Collections and Archives Unit 2007
University Library, Special Collections and Archives 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011Tel: 401-874-4632E-mail: archives@etal.uri.eduWebsite: http://www.uri.edu/library/special_collections/
 Finding aid encoded by Sarina R. Wyant on 2008 May 06, updated by Hailie D. Posey on 2009 September 16 English Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS) Overview of the Collection Jamestown Historical Society Jamestown Bridge Project 1989-1991 3 box(es) (1.25 linear feet) The Jamestown Historical Society sponsored the Jamestown Bridge Oral History Project as part of The Jamestown Bridge from the New Deal to the 1990s: From "The Bridge to Nowhere" to Obsolescence project to document the role of the Jamestown Bridge in the social, economic, and political history of Rhode Island. Special Collections and University Archives
Special Collections and University Archives 15 Lippitt Road Kingston, RI 02881-2011 Tel: 401-874-4632 email: archives@etal.uri.edu
 Mss. Gr. 93 The records are in English. Historical Information

The Jamestown Historical Society sponsored the Jamestown Bridge Oral History Project as part of The Jamestown Bridge from the New Deal to the 1990s: From "The Bridge to Nowhere" to Obsolescence project to educate Rhode Island citizens and visitors about the role that the Jamestown Bridge has played in the social, economic, and political history of Rhode Island.

Sue Maden, Project Director, and John Ragland, a former carpenter who worked on the bridge during its construction conducted the project as part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the bridge in 1990. In addition to the interviews, a twelve minute video tape narrated by John Ragland called “A Construction Diary” was produced, a 64 page book with 60 illustrations chronicling the history of the bridge from its inception to 1990 was published, lectures on the Jamestown Bridge sponsored by historical societies, libraries, schools, and senior citizen group were held, and from June to October of 1990 an exhibit was on display at the Jamestown Historical Society and then the North Kingstown Free Library.

Open for research.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

Preferred Citation

Jamestown Bridge Project, Mss. Gr. 93, University of Rhode Island Special Collections.

 Scope and Content Note

60 minute audio cassette tapes of twenty-nine former employees who held different positions with the Jamestown Bridge Commission from the years between 1940 and 1990. Some were office personnel, who had worked for the Jamestown and Newport Ferry Company before coming to work for the Bridge Commission, others worked on the actual construction of the bridge or were responsible for bridge maintenance. The tapes are accompanied by indexes to the individual interviews prepared by Sue Maden. Permission release forms also accompany the interviews. In addition to the interviews, a twelve minute VHS video tape narrated by John Ragland called “A Construction Diary” and a 64 page book with 60 illustrations chronicling the history of the bridge from its inception to 1990 written by Sue Maden are in the collection.

Arrangement

After processing, the records were organized into two series as follows:

1. Interview Tapes 2. Other Project Material

Open for research.

 Acquisitions Information

The collection was donated to the University of Rhode Island Library Special Collections in April of 1991 by the Jamestown Historical Society.

Transferred directly from the Jamestown Society to the Special Collections Unit.

Minimally processed.

Terms governing use and reproduction: Photocopying and scanning of materials is a fee based service available in the repository and is allowed at the discretion of the Archivist when in compliance to the Unit's policy on copyright and publication.

Jamestown and Newport ferry oral history, Mss. Gr. 55; Jamestown and Newport ferry records, Mss. Gr. 48

Original tapes at the Jamestown Historical Society

 Names Jamestown Historical Society Subjects Bridges -- Rhode Island -- Jamestown -- History Jamestown Bridge (Jamestown, R.I.) -- History Jamestown (R.I.) -- History RIAMCO Browsing Terms Science and Technology Rhode Island/Local Interest Inventory Series 1 Tapes 1989-1991 2.5 box(es) (1.25 linear feet)

Contains 29 audio cassette tapes.

 Arrangement

Arranged in alphbetical order by interviewee.

 1 1 1990 The Jamestown Bridge, 1940-1990 from "The Bridge to Nowhere" to Obsolescence, by Sue Maden 1 2 1989 Aug 26 Bakios, Stephen 1 2 1989 May 31 Brown, Eleanor 1 3 1989 Jun 14 Byerly, Mary-Frances 1 3 1989 May 24 Chesebro, Joseph 1 4 1989 Aug 30 Clarke, David 1 5 1989 Aug 26 Dowling, John J. 1 5 1989 Jun 20 Dwelly, Enoch L. (Bill) 1 5 1989 Jul 31 Evans, Edwin 1 6 1989 Aug 22 Ferreira, Joseph 1 6 1989 Sep 7 Foley, Helen 1 7 1989 Oct 29 Froberg, Ken 1 7 1989 Jun 30 Hill, Fred 2 8 1989 Aug 29 Hyman, James 2 8 1989 Jul 16 Littlefield, Adolph 2 9 1989 Jun 8 Littlefield, Theresa 2 9 1989 Aug 21 Lyons, Esther 2 10 1989 May 18 Matoes, Manny 2 10 1989 Aug 16 Murphy, Kathryn Smith 2 11 1990 Jan 25 Pemantell, James 2 11 1989 Jun 20 Piva, Bill 2 12 1989 Jun 21 Ragland, Mary 2 12 1989 May 5 Ragland, John 2 13 1989 May 16 Rogers, Jesse A. 2 13 1989 Aug 16 Smith, Michael 3 14 1989 May 15 Vieira, Anthony J. 3 14 1989 May 17 Watson, Frank 3 15 1989 May 26 West, Jimmy 3 15 1989 May 23 Wilcox, Walter 3 16 1989 May 9 Williams, Walter Series 2 Other Project Material 1990-1991 .5 box(es) (.25 linear feet)

Contains VHS video cassette tape of a 12 minute recording A Construction Diary; a book documenting the history of the bridge written by Sue Madden and a promotional poster.

 Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically by title.

 3 17 1990? The Jamestown Bridge - A Construction Diary (VHS tape) 3 18 1990? The Jamestown Bridge, 1940-1990 From "The Bridge to Nowhere" to Obsolescence by Sue Maden 3 20 1990? The Jamestown Bridge, 1940-1990 From "The Bridge to Nowhere" to Obsolescence (promotional poster)